Method of distilling petroleum.



E. M. CLARK.

METHOD 0F DISTILLING PETROLEUM.

APPLIOATIDN rILnD Ammo, 1914.

1,1 19,496. Patented Dec.1,1914.

EDGAR M. CLARK, 0F ALTON,

ILLINOIS.

METHOD 0Fy DISTILLING PIETROLEUM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application mea April 2o, 1914. seria; No. 333,243.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR M. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alton, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful lniprovement inMethods of Distilling Petroleum, of which the following is a speer fication. i

My invention relates to an improvement in distilling petroleum, particularly for obY taining therefrom loivfhoiling-point hydrocarbons.

Where in distilling petroleum, according to common practice, the liquid material is contained in a reservoirdike still, to the bottom of which the heat is applied, the danger is ever present of an opening forming in the boiler-bottoni, due to flaw inthe metal, the bottom burning out, or otherl cause. l/Vhen this occurs, the entire contents of the still discharge into the fire, producing a more or less disastrous conflagration. This result is more likely to ensue IWhere the distillation is carried on at a temperature sutliciently high to crack the petroleumcontents of the still. whereby free carbon is developed and accuu'iulates on the still-bottom, on which it lies in redhot condition and tends to burn it out.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a method of distilling petroleum, whereby discharge of the contents of the still, through an accidental opening occurring therein from any cause, shall not produce serious consequences but shall avoid damage of any kind other than the loss of a small part of the charge and temporary disabling of the still.

The accompanying drawing illustrates diagrammatically, as suitable for the practice ot' my improved method, an equipment of apparatus involving a so-called pressure still, in which the distillation is carried ou under high temperature (of 650 to 850 F.) and a pressure of 3 to 7 atmospheres produced by the vapors discharging from the still.

At 1 is shown an upright tank orvreservoir supported in elevated position and having a rounded bottom, from above which leads a pipe 2 containing a force-pump 3, of any suitable construction. rfhis pipe leads from the discharge-side of th'e pump to one end of a pipe-coil 4 in a furnace 5,

which is preferably coalhurning. The opposite end of the coil communicates -ervoir.

through a pipe 6 with the reservoir 1 at its upper end, from which leads a discharge-pipe 7 to the upper end of a Watercooled condenser-coil 8, the discharge-end of which, containing a valve 9, leads to a receiving-drum 10 for the distillate. A pipe 11 rises from the lower-most branch of the coil 8 through the condenser-tank, above which the'pipe contains a valve 12.

The apparatus shown is particularly de signed for the manufacture of gasolene by distilling under pressure the residue of pe-V troleum-distillation, such as fuel-oil, to produce it. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is applicable generally to the distillation of petroleum While it has peculiar advantages in connection with the pressure-distillation process referred to. In the apparatus illustrated, the liquid material to be distilled is charged into the res-- ervoir, which may contain several thousand gallons. ith the pump in action and the furnace going, the valves 9 and 12 being closed, 'the contents ofthe reservoir are cir culated, passing from the reservoir by way of the pipe 2 through the pump, which forces the liquid in a relatively-fine stream through the coil Ll, whence it returns in heated` condition throughlthe pipe 6 to the res- By continuing this circulation, the heated liquid returning from the coil 4- to the reservoir heats the contents of the latter and the resultant vapors pass off through the upwardly-inclining pipe 7 and condenser. These vapors build up a pressure on the contents of the reservoir of from about3 to 7 atmospheres and raise their temperature to about 650o F. and as the run proceeds, to about 850o F. Gases accumulating in the condenser are allowed to escape from time to time,y on opening the valve 12, for relieving the gas-pressure, which is liable to accumulate in the coil and obstruct the action of the apparatus. From time to time the valve 9 is opened for dischargin the distillate into the drum 10. This distil ate is crude gasolene of superior quality, and it may be subjected to further treatment, well-lmown in the art, for re- Hning it.

By thus subjecting to the action of heat the material under treatment in a relatively fine stream, while free carbon is formed in the liquid passing through the coil 4, it courses under the/high pressure at which theliquid is circulated so rapidly through llO the same as to prevent accumulation therein of the carbon, which it carries back into the reservoir in the bottom of which it may accumulate Without injurious effect, sinceV 5 there 1s no fire under the reservoir. Should,

however, a leak accidentally occur in the coil, so little of the liquid will discharge into the lire in the furnace that no damage Will ensue. My improved method, therefore, not only greatly decreases the danger of accident, but if the latter occurs the resultant damage is comparatively immaterial. Moreover, it enables from 3 to 7 runs to be made of the still Without requiring s the apparatus to be stripped and cleaned,

Whereas Where the boiler 1 is fired but one `run can be made Without strip ing and cleaning the carbon deposit out o it.

While a pump is shown for circulating i?? the liquid material, any other 'Way of proply of the liquid material, taking 0H and condensing the lresultant vapors and maintaining a. pressure of said vapors on said supply.

2. The method of distilling liquid residue of petroleum-distillation, which consists in circulating said liquid forcibly and rapidly in a. relatively-small stream under confinement and subjection to heat from and back to a bulk-supply of the residue, taking off and condensing the resultant vapors and maintaining said liquid at a temperature of from about 650 F. to about 850 F. under a pressure thereon of said vapors of about 3 to 7 atmospheres.

3. The method of distilling liquid residue Ai of petroleum-distillation, which consists in circulating said liquid forcibly and rapidly in a relatively-small stream under confinement and subjection to heat from and back to a bulk-supply of the residue, taking off and condensing the resultant vapors and maintainin said liquid at a temperature of from agout 650 F. to about 850D F. under a pressure thereon of said vapors of about 3 to 7 atmospheres exerted through- "-'r condensation.

. CLARK.

out their course to and durin EDGAR In presence of- NELLIE B. DEARBORN, Damv C. THoRsEN.

the same as to prevent accumulation therein of the carbon, which it carries back into the reservoir in the bottom of which it may accumulate Without injurious effect, since.

' 'rial. Moreover, it enables from-3 to l7 runs to be made of `the stillwithout requiring the apparatus to be stripped and cleaned, Whereas Where the boiler ly is iired but one run canv be .mademwithou't ystripping and" `.cleaning the carbon deposit out of it..v

While apump is shown for circulating the liquid materlal, any other -way of'p'roduelng the necessary rapid circulation is intended to' be within my invention.' What I claim as new anddesire to secure .1

by Letters Patent is 1. The method of distilling petroleum, which consists in circulating it forcibly and rapidly in a relatively-small stream' under confinement and subjection to a cracking temperature from and back to a bulk-supltmrecton'in Letters Patent No. v1, '119,496.

ply of the liquid material, taking oi and condensing the resultant vapors and mainv taining ay pressure of said vapors on said sup l of petroleum-distillation, which consists in circulating said liquid forcibly and rapidly in` a relatlvely-small stream under confinement and subjection to heat from and back under a. pressure thereon of said vapors or about 3`to 7 atmospheres.

, 3. The method of distilling liquid residue of petroleum-distillation, which consists in circulating said liquid forcibly and rapidly in a relatively-small stream under coninement and subjection to heat from and back to a bulk-supply of the residue, taking oif P ya rlhe method of distilling liquid residue and condensing the resultant vapors and p maintainin said liquidv at a temperature of from a out 650 F. to about 850 F. under a pressure thereon of said vapors of about 3 to 7 atmospheres exerted throughout their course to and during condensation.

l y EDGAR M. CLARK.

In presence of- NELLIE B. DEARBORN, v DArsv C. THoRsEN.

[tis hereby certifiedv that Letters 'Patent No. 1,119,496, granted December f 1914, upon the application of Edgar'M. Clark, of Alton, Illinois, for an ixnprovei ment in Methodsof Distilling Petroleum, was erroneouslyl issued to the inventor, said Clark, Whereas said lLetters Patent should have issued to Standard z'l Oompa/ny,

Q7"y Whiting, 'fad-ione, a, corporat'imz of -li'nolom, as assignee of the entire interest in i,

said invention, as shown by the records of assignmentsin this oice; and that the i said Letters Patent should, be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record' ofthe casein :the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this kv15th day ofIDecembe-r, A. D.; 19.1.4.

J. T. NEWTON,

Actif/1g: Commissioner of Patents. 4

It is hereby oertied that Letters 4Patent No. 1,119,496, granted December 1,

1914, upon the application of Edgar M. Clark` of Alton, Illinois, for an improvement in Methodszof Distlling Petroleum, was erroneously issued to the inventor,

' said Clark, whereas said Letters Patent should have issued to Stazlidara Oil Company,

of Wzz'zE/ziwg, Indiana, a eorporat-on of Indiana, as assignee of the entire interest in seid invention, as shown by the recorc'ls of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction` therein that the same mmv conforrn the record of the case in the Patent Oflce.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of December, A. D., 1914,l

.'[sEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

